Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09BEIJING470
2009-02-24 10:48:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Beijing
Cable title:
RUSSIA SEEKS TO DEFUSE TENSIONS WITH CHINA AFTER
how-toVZCZCXRO0766 OO RUEHCN RUEHDBU RUEHGH RUEHVC DE RUEHBJ #0470 0551048 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 241048Z FEB 09 FM AMEMBASSY BEIJING TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2467 INFO RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUCNCIS/CIS COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RUEAFVS/OSD WASHDC IMMEDIATE RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC IMMEDIATE
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000470
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV EWWT ETRD MARR PBTS CH RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA SEEKS TO DEFUSE TENSIONS WITH CHINA AFTER
SHIP SINKING INCIDENT, SAYS RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons
C O N F I D E N T I A L BEIJING 000470
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV EWWT ETRD MARR PBTS CH RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA SEEKS TO DEFUSE TENSIONS WITH CHINA AFTER
SHIP SINKING INCIDENT, SAYS RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b/d).
1. (C) The Russian military's February 15 sinking of the
Chinese cargo ship "The New Star" has caused tension between
Russia and China but will not have a long-term impact on
bilateral relations, a Russian Embassy contact in Beijing
told POLOFF February 24. Our contact reported that the MFA
summoned the Russian Ambassador to express China's "strong
dissatisfaction" with the incident. Russia is working to
"defuse tensions," blames the Indonesian captain of the ship
for the incident, but has not discussed compensation with the
Chinese. A contact at a Chinese shipping company said the
incident would not have a significant commercial impact on
Chinese shipping lines. End Summary.
2. (C) In a meeting with POLOFF February 24, Russian EmbOff
Sergey Yakimets downplayed the affect of the ship sinking on
Russia-China relations, arguing that the incident would have
"no long-term impact" on relations in spite of the short-term
increase in tensions. He stressed that the seven Chinese
sailors "were not killed" but rather died of drowning after
jumping into the freezing waters. He blamed the Indonesian
captain of the cargo ship for causing the incident by
attempting to import "prohibited cargo" and later fleeing
from a Russian naval vessel. To "defuse tensions" with
China, Russia had expressed regret and was investigating the
incident. However, Yakimets said, Russia had not discussed
the question of compensation with Chinese officials. For
Russia, the incident raised a larger concern about "gray
customs clearing," which Yakimets described as the
questionable and sometimes illegal practices of Chinese cargo
ships and cross-border traders seeking to avoid customs
payments.
3. (C) Benjamin Liou, a researcher at the Chinese shipping
company COSCO, told EconOff February 23 that the Hong
Kong-owned, Sierra Leone-flagged vessel had been carrying
poor quality rice from Thailand to Vladivostok, where it was
rejected by Russian authorities. He described the sinking as
an isolated incident that would not have a significant
commercial impact on Chinese shipping lines.
PICCUTA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/24/2029
TAGS: PREL PGOV EWWT ETRD MARR PBTS CH RS
SUBJECT: RUSSIA SEEKS TO DEFUSE TENSIONS WITH CHINA AFTER
SHIP SINKING INCIDENT, SAYS RUSSIAN DIPLOMAT
Classified By: Political Minister Counselor Aubrey Carlson. Reasons 1.
4 (b/d).
1. (C) The Russian military's February 15 sinking of the
Chinese cargo ship "The New Star" has caused tension between
Russia and China but will not have a long-term impact on
bilateral relations, a Russian Embassy contact in Beijing
told POLOFF February 24. Our contact reported that the MFA
summoned the Russian Ambassador to express China's "strong
dissatisfaction" with the incident. Russia is working to
"defuse tensions," blames the Indonesian captain of the ship
for the incident, but has not discussed compensation with the
Chinese. A contact at a Chinese shipping company said the
incident would not have a significant commercial impact on
Chinese shipping lines. End Summary.
2. (C) In a meeting with POLOFF February 24, Russian EmbOff
Sergey Yakimets downplayed the affect of the ship sinking on
Russia-China relations, arguing that the incident would have
"no long-term impact" on relations in spite of the short-term
increase in tensions. He stressed that the seven Chinese
sailors "were not killed" but rather died of drowning after
jumping into the freezing waters. He blamed the Indonesian
captain of the cargo ship for causing the incident by
attempting to import "prohibited cargo" and later fleeing
from a Russian naval vessel. To "defuse tensions" with
China, Russia had expressed regret and was investigating the
incident. However, Yakimets said, Russia had not discussed
the question of compensation with Chinese officials. For
Russia, the incident raised a larger concern about "gray
customs clearing," which Yakimets described as the
questionable and sometimes illegal practices of Chinese cargo
ships and cross-border traders seeking to avoid customs
payments.
3. (C) Benjamin Liou, a researcher at the Chinese shipping
company COSCO, told EconOff February 23 that the Hong
Kong-owned, Sierra Leone-flagged vessel had been carrying
poor quality rice from Thailand to Vladivostok, where it was
rejected by Russian authorities. He described the sinking as
an isolated incident that would not have a significant
commercial impact on Chinese shipping lines.
PICCUTA